“It was a nail-biter but the kids got it done!” exclaimed second-year Tiger baseball head coach Eddie Cornblum after his team held on for a 5-4 victory over Stoney Point in the season opener.

The weather was cold in Round Rock Monday evening but junior pitcher Tyler Vail, District 12-5A’s Newcomer of the Year last season, was hot on the mound. He entered the game for the final four innings, relieving starter Justin Rhea, and turned in a brilliant performance.

Rhea, a southpaw pitcher, had struck out four, allowed four hits and gave up two runs, one earned, in a good, solid performance. He pitched his way out of a bases-loaded, no-outs first inning to get the Tigers rolling.

The right-handed Vail, who throws a torrid 90-mile per hour fastball, struck out three batters and allowed three hits, including  two runs, only one of which was earned.

Vail, a returning letterman, really shined in the seventh inning as he held off a Stoney Point last-ditch upset effort. Belton led 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh when Vail walked two in a row. Then the next batter popped up to center field but got on base when the ball was dropped and a runner dashed across home plate to score.

No problem --- Vail nailed the next batter on a 3-2 pitch for out number one. The next man at the plate flew out to center field for the second out. Vail was saved from the runner at third scoring when catcher Colby Fuentes alertly blocked a 1-0 fastball that nearly got away. Then, Vail switched to his great curve ball, tossing three straight to strike out the final batter and preserve the victory.

Cormblum called his pitchers’ performances “gutsy” after both were able to pitch out of crucial situations.

Belton chalked up five runs off five hits with three errors. All the Tiger runs came in the fourth through sixth innings.

Stoney Point’s Tigers had four runs off seven hits with four errors.

Weather permitting, Belton will play in Round Rock’s Hard Rock Classic Thursday through Saturday.